Sabtu, 24 Desember 2011

I have been in Indonesia for almost a year now! Throughout this year I have been blessed by older women investing their lives in me. They have mentored me, shared stories from their lives, and even shared mistakes and regrets of theirs with me in hopes that I wouldn't make the same ones. When I see these women and see what the Lord has accomplished through them I sometimes feel out of my league, like these women are "spiritual giants" and I'm just a spiritual worm. When I start to dwell on this, I tend to focus on how my life lacks faith compared to them, and that I haven't done anything worth while for the glory of God. However, I was reminded while reading James that Elijah was a man just like us.

James 5:17-18 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

And Elijah was serving the same God I am. A God that put on the flesh that I am so ready to be done with. The flesh I struggle with every day of my life. He came out of heaven and put on that flesh, and did not sin. Then He took the death that I deserve, but He rose again in glory! And He, in His grace and mercy, allows me to live through His Spirit. And even when my faith is lacking and I don't want to do what He wants me to, I can do it. I can do all things through Him. There's a saying that goes like this, All people are weird until you get to know them. I think it's the opposite. I look at these women I was talking about and think they are "spiritual giants," but as I get to know them, they are people just like me. They mess up, but they trust that God has redeemed them and that He continues to form them in the image of His Son. This is my hope. I will continue to run the race, even if I stumble or turn the wrong direction every once in awhile.